Uniquely Felt

Uniquely Felt by Christine White

Felt making is the magical transformation of a loose pile of wool fibres into a durable, alluring non woven fabric. An ancient process that continues to work its wonder on modern artisans and crafters, felt making produces a flannel-like fabric with a tactile appeal like nothing else. How is this fabric alchemy accomplished? The felt maker adds a little soap and water to the wool, presses the fibers until they tangle together and hold the shape of cloth, and then vigorously works, or fulls, the cloth until it shrinks and strengthens to the desired shape. In "Uniquely Felt", Christine White, a professional teacher and felt maker, gathers her considerable knowledge of the craft to write the comprehensive guide to all things felt. She describes the equipment, explores concepts and theories of felting, and thoroughly covers all felting techniques, including traditional, needle, three dimensional seamless, nuno, cobweb, carved, and Beede ball. And then there are the projects - handsome, indestructible bags; nuno shawls that marry soft wool fibers and wispy silks; bright picnic blankets and plush bath mats; lacy curtains made with impossibly sheer cobweb felt.
Every project is striking in its fabulous depth of color and purity of form. There are no stitches, no seams, and no signs of woven cloth - just a wonderful, flowing piece of textile art. The basic steps of felt making are simple enough to learn in an afternoon, but the infinite possibilities in every new pile of fiber keep enthusiasts fascinated for a lifetime. The process always begins the same way, but the fibers make the felting journey unique every time. This book is the ultimate guide to that magical adventure.